PRZPA Team Preview, MLK Cougars

<p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='264265' first='Khalid' last='Bueno'] currently stands as one of the better un-committed prospects inside the class of 2025. A top 50 overall prospect, a backer who places inside the top ten at his position in what is one of the best backer classes Pennsylvania has put out in recent memory. Martin Luther King will head into the 2024 season with a top 50 senior who is ready to set the tone on the defensive side of the football. A wrestler, Bueno currently holds official offers out of Duquesne and Army WP. 3.36 GPA, the type of backer that can play WILL, SAM, or MIKE, especially at this level.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/soy__khalid/status/1736167699820986849 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1325861' first='Trent' last='Gilliard'] is another backer MLK will get to deploy against Public League opponents. A formidable wall being stacked here, with Bueno and Gilliard stationing across A & B gaps. Both prospects are team captains I might add. MLK will stay in football games so long as these two, especially Gilliard, can stay disciplined and plug holes from their backer positions. The tandem should make MLK a tough defense to run against, circle the team if you have them on schedule, and make sure Gilliard and Bueno are accounted for in some fashion. Gilliard's tape landed him in the middle of the pack in terms of rank, he's a name I'd throw to PSACs and D3s who are recruiting the area. This past update saw Gilliard debut on our ranks, he slipped under my radar back in December. Happy to have him represented now.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MLK_football/status/1813753486225625240 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1091267' first='Saifir' last='Culmer'] self-lists on Hudl at 5'7, 127 pounds. I'm in the business of projecting prospects to the next level, these measurables will make recruiting an uphill battle moving forward regardless of how good tape is out of Culmer. That being said, his tape impresses more than you'd figure. First two reps on tape have Culmer intercepting errant passes, with Culmer reacting to poorly thrown footballs well. If MLK can count on Culmer to make the same type of plays, the easiest ones at least, they will find themselves in a position to win games in the same fashion MLK did in 2023. Culmer then sprinkles in a good amount of run support reps from his outside corner position, proving that he isn't just a set of pads out there. Although Culmer is light in frame, he's unafraid to put his weight on the line and cut the knees/legs of incoming ball carriers. Smart kid too, understands leverage and how to take correct paths/angles to the football. Should carve out a role for himself along the perimeter of this Cougar defense.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Not going to wow any recruiters in terms of tape or size. Yet, [player_tooltip player_id='1520396' first='Zion' last='Valente-Lowe'] put together enough quality reps to create a sophomore tape after playing center for MLK last Fall. Not enough juice to be ranked on our site, that doesn't mean ZVL can't carve out some kind of important role as an incoming junior alongside promising young talent along what is likely to be a newly shaped offensive line unit. OL pieces are constantly shuffling, so unsure if Valente-Lowe will serve reps at center or OG this coming Fall. Either way, he's a kid I'll be watching for when I attend MLK games in the future. If he can put together a better junior tape, he could land himself on D3 radars in the future. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Two out of the three Cougar captains have already been mentioned above, with the third being two-way starter [player_tooltip player_id='915674' first='Makhai' last='Robinson']. Culmer, Gilliard, and Valente-Lowe are key role players alongside Bueno, Keith, and incoming senior [player_tooltip player_id='915674' first='Makhai' last='Robinson']. Places one spot outside of the Top 150, high praise coming from myself, this rank usually exclusively given to Division One graded prospects, which Robinson is. Holds a verbal RMU offer, and a verbal Lincoln offer, Robinson is currently un-committed. Expect to see Robinson make something out of nothing on offense, multiple reps showcased on tape of Robinson taking five-yard hitches to the house no matter how far out from the endzone. Witnessed taking carries, might have to do so again as a senior. Phenomenal defender more than anything, Has the build to play safety at the next level, has the frame to handle consistent run support. Firmly believe college coaches are sleeping on this young man. Would be a huge steal for any PSAC program.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Mynam3khai/status/1802443113178259539 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='399269' first='Sameer' last='Keith'] holding nearly an identical rank and grade to that of senior captain [player_tooltip player_id='915674' first='Makhai' last='Robinson']. Might be the playmaker this program desperately needs. The third prospect on this team to receive a Division One grade. Robinson should serve as the all-around two-way player, whereas Keith leans as a bit more valuable a wideout than DB. Don't get it twisted, this is one of the better two-way starters the class of 2025 has to offer, yet I'm expecting Keith to help alleviate pressure off whoever mans the QB position this coming Fall. You'll feel Keith's presence at all three phases of the game, Keith scored touchdowns while deployed at corner, as well as taking a punt back for a score to boot. I'm expecting double-digit touchdown production out of Keith this Fall.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Meerkeith4/status/1810403925285073321 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">An incoming senior who might prove valuable this coming Fall. Would have likely landed on our ranks, albeit a bit low, had he posted his tape a bit earlier. The MLK coaching staff should rely on Johnson to make tackles from his safety spot, most of his tape showcases his abilities to do so. Unsure what else might be expected of him moving forward.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Posted freshman tape on Hudl, interested in seeing if [player_tooltip player_id='1398287' first='Clyde' last='Johnson'] can blossom into something special at MLK. Shamir Norton is gone, I question whether or not Johnson could carve out a role at back on offense, possibly beside [player_tooltip player_id='915674' first='Makhai' last='Robinson']. I won't pretend to understand the depth chart behind the scenes at MLK. One thing's for sure, I'll be keeping an eye out for young names out of MLK moving forward, [player_tooltip player_id='1398287' first='Clyde' last='Johnson'] being one of them. </p>